Takabi hit the ground, tumbling until his back slammed into a tree. His face was caked in dirt, hair a scrambled mess and sweat dripping from his pores.
Garuga stood across the yard from him, his dark eyes locked on Takabi as the boy stood and brushed his sweatpants.
"Again. Attack me more intensely this time."
Further from the house, the door to the Bunker opened up, Nana stepping out and looking back at the stone structure. Raia came out after her, closing the door and stretching wide.
"God, that meeting was boring." She looked at Nana and followed her eyes. "Kinda convenient we were able to move this thing into town, huh?"
"I'm more concerned with how. The entire thing is a time void, and was in the forest far away from WaterSlum."
"Yeah, well," Raia began, going into her bag to pull out a small mirror and lip gloss. "Shink moves this thing anytime he wants. It's extremely complicated, to the point I don't even understand it all." She popped her lips and placed the gloss in her bag. "What's more amazing is how everything moves with it. The Canyon especially. I do know it's tied down to his mana though."
Nana touched her chin as the two began walking through the trees. "I should research the process. Could be handy information if we ever need it, and Shink isn't around."
Takabi charged at Garuga, white flames dancing around his body when he threw the first punch. The Shadow Dragon maneuvered his arms, slipping them under and around Takabi's before slamming his palm into the boy's forehead. He fell back, catching himself on his palm before bringing his leg up and catching Garuga's chin.
Takabi grit his teeth. The kick was too weak.
"Harder, boy," The Dragon instructed angrily, hopping twenty feet into the air.
Takabi quickly got on all fours, body flickering before he appeared under Garuga.
He threw a single kick, Garuga blocking from his left. Takabi spun and brought his forearm back against the Dragon's chin, knocking him into the dirt before twirling towards Garuga and bringing his leg down hard, much harder than he intended, and smashed the ground, earth shooting into the air in a cloud of dust.
The girls coughed as they got closer to the backyard, waving the dirt away with their hands.
When the smoke cleared, Garuga was standing behind Takabi, the tips of his fingers pressed against the back of the boy's skull.
Takabi didn't move, just remained where he was and groaned in frustration as the flames around his body faded away.
"You've improved considerably these last summer months." Lowering his fingers, Garuga walked towards the back porch and grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler sitting next to the glass door.
Takabi stood, a small light emitting from his hand as the ruined yard began to put itself back together. "However, you still refuse to let it go."
Raia walked over first, gently stepping up the wooden steps. "Is he still struggling with the darkness?"
"More than usual lately. Takabi, I can't deny you've become more powerful." Uncapping the bottle, he continued to speak, tone growing more and more praiseful with each word. "In fact, you probably grew so much stronger that you could defeat people like Erodon without the need of the gems." Garuga took a sip from the bottle, wiping his lips soon after and capping it. "I haven't seen anyone get that powerful in a few months, so I can admit you're a special one. Despite that, you struggle still to properly control yourself."
"I just can't do it, alright," The boy finally said. "I don't know what it is, but every time I even consider using that power, I remember what I did when I lost control of myself." He balled his hand into a fist as the last of the yard pieced itself back together. "I may remember who and what I am, but I'll be damned if I just forego any humanity I developed."
Nana approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder comfortingly and offering a warm smile. "I agree. He's not using the darkness and he already improved so much. You can't exactly fault him for not wanting to rely on a power he doesn't want."
"We'll see how long that idea lasts once the other two get here. You're going to have to make adjustments to yourself, Takabi. It's called growing up. We all have to do it eventually," Garuga replied sharply.
"It's not like I can't grow in my own ways. What does it matter how much stronger I get anyway?" He craned his head aside. "Aside from Erodon, what else is actually out there?"
Garuga raised an eyebrow at his words, hunching over and rubbing his chin with his free hand. "Personally, I want you to be prepared if anything were to happen again. From personal experience, you can't rely on anyone else but yourself in a battle, and no matter what you do there will always be someone beyond your current strength." Pausing a moment, he looked between the three and smiled softly.
The smile was to offer some kind of comfort, despite what words came next.
"Fate is too unpredictable, and just because you have faith in someone else or in your own strength, it doesn't mean things will have a happy ending. Get what I mean," He asked.
Takabi nodded, but his face said he didn't completely understand.
Garuga read his expression closely and followed with, "You can fight, and fight and fight until your last breath. Strength makes the world go round, but faith is what gives strength its power. Without either, in yourself or your comrades, death will not hesitate you claim you."
The air grew a sense of somberness. Nana and Raia knew the truth and cruelty of the world well enough. It's what made Nana keep a close relationship with her parents. It's what drove Raia to search for and cherish the father figure in her life now.
Despite his powers, nothing changed in Takabi's life. School, work and his social life seemed completely unaffected by the fact that people viewed him as a superhero. The reactions he would get were nothing short of simple acknowledgement.
"I think I get it," Takabi said to break the tension. "I'll keep going and take your training to heart."
Garuga nodded. "I wouldn't be putting this much pressure on you if I didn't think you could control the darkness inside you."
His phone vibrated on the glass table. Stepping up the porch, Takabi picked up his phone and read over the text message from Carlos.
He was surprised.
Carlos hasn't talked to him much since the fight with Erodon in the park, and even less after his sister's, Carrie, funeral. The day after, his mother skipped town with her new boyfriend. Carlos' father took off to focus more on work following the divorce and funeral, so Carlos kept the house and had his parents wire money to him so he could finish school here before deciding who he wanted to live with.
Takabi read over the text, jaw growing stern.
Nana noticed first and spoke up, "What's wrong?"
"Carlos wants me to see Anna with him. Haven't talked to her since she got admitted to the psych ward." He said, looking at the trio. "Can you tell I'm a bit nervous?"
"Want me to come," Nana offered. "I don't have anything planned at home at the moment."
"I don't think you want to. This should be a trip for just me and him." He told her. She wanted to insist she tag along, but knew it would be better to hang back this time.
"Okay, fine, but you owe me an amazing date. Under the stairs."
"Yeah, yeah," He said in response, playfully brushing her off. The two shared a laugh, before she moved close and kissed his cheek. "Be careful, okay?"
"When am I not," He asked, moving into the house and sliding the glass door shut.
His mind turned back to Carlos. He was worried for his friend. The amount of things the guy was going through would be a lot, and he already wasn't in the best mindset because of Carrie passing away so brutally.
As he moved up the stairs towards his room, Takabi gave a look of determination to no one and declared, with his chest puffed, "Alright. I'm gonna take him someplace cool after we leave the ward. He needs a vacation from life."